Signaling system switch



pril 6, 1954 A. A. LAMBERT 2,674,675

7 IGNALING SYST FigJ PrilB, 1954 A. A. LAMBERT 2,674,675

SIGNALING SYSTEM SWITCH Filed June 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V s k Fig. 3

Ade/or A. Lumber)" IN VEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED TATES PAT E NT OFFICE SIGNALING SYSTEM SWITCH Adelor A. Lambert, Round Lake, 111.

Application June 14, 1951, Serial Nth-231,463

1 Claim. 1

'Thisinvention. relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in signalling systems, more particularly, signalling apparatus such as maybe conveniently and effectively ,employedat bars, counters, or the like, and the principal objectof the invention-is to facilitate the attractingof an attendant when anyone of several personsat the bar or counter desires to be served.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a plurality of actuating switches,

on the master indicator panel are individually connected to respective groups into which the several switches are separated. 'In this manner, the actuation of any oneswitch in any one par- -ticular group energizes the signal lamp for that group to initially attract theattendant, while'at the same time the particular pilot lamp'of the actuated switch indicates to the attendant the exact location of the patron who is to be served.

Som of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its efiicient and expeditious operation, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture and installation.

With the above more important objects and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bar or counter, showing th invention associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a wiring diagram of the components of the invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the individual switch and pilot lamp unit; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification an throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings v12 in detail, the-general reference character I 0 .designatesa counter or-bar having a top l2provided with-a row of vertical bores or recesses :14 "to accommodate a plurality of switches designated generally by th reference character l6.

The recesses I4 are counterbored at the=upper end thereof as at l8 (see Figure 4) and each switch includes a cylindrical housing 20, proe vided at its upper end with a diametrically'em larged portion 22 'whichis seated inxthe counterbore 18. The, latter also accommodates atransparent or translucent disc 24 formed with a central aperture 26, so as to'accommodate a depressible switch actuating button 28. The disc 24 .is

'wardly through a lower portion or member" 32 of the switch housing .20, as is clearly shown in Figure 4. 'A'laterallyprojectingsupport arm or bracket34-is secured by fastener elements 36 "to the switch housing member 32 and carries, by .-means of insulatedstuds andblocks 38, 4!! respectively, a set of three contacts,-namely an upper contact 42, an intermediate contact 44 and a lower contact 46. These contacts are preferably of a resilient construction so that they are normally, spaced apart as shown in Figure 4, but when th button 28 is fully depressed, the contacts 42, 44, 46 are brought together.

The switch housing 20 also accommodates a pilot lamp 48 mounted in a socket 50, it being noted that when the pilot lamp is energized, light rays emanate therefrom and are visible through the transparent or translucent disc 24 in the counter top l2.

Referring now to the wiring diagram illustrated in Figure 3, it will be observed that a common feed wire of conductor 52 is connected by several leads 54 to the upper contacts 42 of the several switches [6, while the intermediate contacts 44 of the several switches are connected by a plurality of conductors 56 to the sockets of the respective pilot lamps 48. The sockets 50 are also connected by additional conductors 58 to a common ground or return wire 60, a branch or extension 62 of which will be hereinafter described.

The row of switches I6 is separated into a plurality of sections or groups, such forexample as is indicated by the dotted lines 62 in Figure 3,

3 and there is provided at a remote point from the counter l0 9, master indicator panel 64 provided with a plurality of signal lamps 66. The number of these lamps corresponds to the number of groups of switches.

The lower contacts 46 of the switches in each group are connected by suitable leads 68 to common conductors 10 leading to the respective indicator lamps 6B which are grounded to the common returnwlre-(M extending from the wire 60. The indicator panel 64 is preferably mounted upon a wall, or th like, so that it may be readily observed from a considerable distance.

housing and seated in saidcount rbore, a translucent disc mounted in said rim flush with the upper surface of said support member and pro- When the invention is placed in use and a patron places a glass 12, for example, upon the actuating button 28 of one of the switches IS, the

contacts 42, 44, 46 of that particularswitchare' immediately brought together and the pilot lamp 48 is energized, thus primaril indicating to the patron that the signalling system is in operation. Moreover, the signalling lamp (66) connected to the particular group of switches wherein the actuated switch is located will become energized as shown in Figure 1, thus calling the attendant behind the bar orcounter by a visual signal, indicative of the particular section of the bar where his services are desired. Moreover, after the attendanthas observed the particular section of the bar,he can readily notice the en -ergizedpilot1amp of the depressed switch, thus unmistakablydesignating the exact location of the patron who wishes to be served.

Needless to say, an audible signalling device such as a bell, maybe connected to the master vided with a central opening, a tubular adapter secured in and depending from the downwardly projecting portion of said housing, said adapter having a bottom plate provided with a passage coaxial withsai'd-opening, an electric switch securedto said bottom plate, a vertically slidable actuating rod extending through said passage into said housing and having its lower end in operative' engagement with the switch for closing the latter when the rod. is slid downwardly, said switch including resilient means for slidingithe rod upwardly, a knob provided at the upper end of said rod and slidable in said opening to a projected position above the upp rsuriace of said support member, an annular shoulder provided at the lower end of said knob and engageable with the lower surface of said disc to limit upward movement of the knob, and means for supporting an electric lamp. said last recited means being mounted in said housing and electrically connected to said switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name -Date 1,100,382 Levison June 16, 1914 1,281,208 Richetelle Oct.-8, 1918 1,340,145 Blair et a1. May 18, 1920 1,796,668 Sarfaty Mar. 17, 1931 2,012,650 Yrisarri Aug. 27, 1935 2,273,353 Harris Feb. 17, 1942 2,546,086 Brockway Mar. 20,1951 2,610,277 Hooker et al. Sept-9,4952 

